Sarawak focuses to set marketing infrastructure for farmers

Sarawak is focusing on setting up marketing infrastructure throughout the state to assist the farmers sell their agriculture products.

Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the government was still studying the feedback from the ground pertaining to suitable locations to set up such a facility.

"We are studying the locations because the facility will not only be a collection centre but also a semi processing centre for downstream activities," he said.

Uggah was met after attending presentation sessions by Sarawak Central Zone Rural Economy Transformation Committees on programmes lined up for 2017 to uplift the economy of the poor in Sibu, Mukah, Kapit and Sarikei divisions.

At present marketing the products is the biggest obstacle plaguing the farmers as they do not have any platforms to do it.

He said the state government was also looking into forming anchor farms that could support the smallholders, including exporting their products overseas.

"At the moment, some of our products like 'pisang kepok' has successfully sold in the peninsula and in November last year FAMA had sent the first shipment of rambutan to China," said Uggah.

He said under his ministry, RM122 billion had been set aside for agricultural programmes such as subsidies for pepper, sago, oil palm, birds' nest and coconut.

Uggah was confident that through well planned programmes and coordinated efforts in every divisions, the government could help the poor earn an income of RM4,000 per household and eradicate poverty in the state.

The rate of poverty stood at 1.6 per cent the rural Sarawak compared to 0.5 per cent in the urban areas as of last year. - BERNAMA